"Healing forests" increasingly popular in Europe. One is near Świnoujście.

The concept of "healing forests" is gaining traction across Europe, offering a therapeutic approach that combines nature's restorative power with targeted human intervention. These specially certified areas aim to enhance well-being and aid in the recovery process for individuals facing diverse health challenges.

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For many people, even a short trip to the forest has a beneficial effect on their well-being. Can this experience be made even stronger and have an even greater impact on health?

Scientists and doctors increasingly recognize the benefits of nature contact for alleviating ailments and treating specific illnesses. Research supports the positive impact of forest environments on accelerating convalescence and bolstering respiratory, circulatory, and immune system health. The trend of "forest bathing", calm, relaxing visits to wooded areas, is becoming more popular.

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Scientists and doctors are increasingly taking contact with nature and spending time among greenery seriously as an effective element of therapy that can reduce various ailments and treat specific diseases.

Healing forests differ from ordinary woodlands. While natural, they are adapted to cater to individuals with conditions such as cardiac, respiratory, orthopedic, psychosomatic, or neurological issues. A special certificate, awarded by the Rostock-based Healing Forest organization, an initiative from the German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, validates a forest's suitability. Certified healing forests allow patients, under therapist supervision, to undergo specific treatments for chronic diseases and rehabilitation.

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Healing forests are characterized by the fact that, on the one hand, they are a work of nature, and on the other hand, the result of certain human intervention, the aim of which is to adapt the forest so that people struggling with various ailments can benefit from it.

Germany leads in certified healing forests, with several located in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, including one near Heringsdorf, close to Poland's Świnoujście. Austria also has a healing forest surrounding the Göttweig Abbey, and Portugal boasts the 400-year-old Mata Nacional do Buçaco arboretum. Experts note that the multifaceted benefits of spending time in these environments, both for mental and physical health, have long been overlooked. These forests are considered beneficial not only for the elderly and those with illnesses but also for children, who are particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change.

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The pro-health properties of forests have, for many years, been 'off the radar' of experts.